This message was self-deleted by its author

[left-of-center2012]

This message was self-deleted by its author (left-of-center2012) on Wed Aug 25, 2021, 05:46 PM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[Demovictory9]

1. So many other.countries.they.could have.visited

[chia]

7. Not when their extended families live in Afghanistan. This wasn't a country they randomly picked

for a vacation. We have a very large Middle Eastern community here in San Diego County, particularly East County, where the Cajon Valley school district is located.

[Demovictory9]

17. ok

[Effete Snob]

23. They are not random students

This poorly reproduces story fails to note in the thread OP that the students in question are Afghani immigrants to the US who were visiting family who work with the US military.

There appears to be an agenda-driven interest in portraying this as some sort of lark - as if it were random students on a pleasure trip. This is not that.

[Dream Girl]

21. I didn't see any mention of extended families. It sounds like it was a study abroad or service

Learning trip. These types of trips are popular among high school students looking for something “meaty” to put on their college application. My son did one of these in Ecuador. His friend did a service learning trip to Kenya.

[chia]

24. No. Cajon Valley is an elementary school district. These are 6 families, including 23 children.

Other sources mention they were traveling to see extended family.

[Effete Snob]

27. No, this is not that

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/5594882001

“ The families had traveled separately to Afghanistan for summer vacations to see their grandparents, cousins and other relatives. Most of the families came to the United States on a special immigrant visa after having worked for the U.S. government or U.S. military in Afghanistan, officials said. The visa allows in only the person and their spouse and children.”

[brush]

16. Yep, not smart. If never occured to them it was a war zone?

[Effete Snob]

29. I guess that's why they were on military visas

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/5594882001

“ The families had traveled separately to Afghanistan for summer vacations to see their grandparents, cousins and other relatives. Most of the families came to the United States on a special immigrant visa after having worked for the U.S. government or U.S. military in Afghanistan, officials said. The visa allows in only the person and their spouse and children.”

[JohnSJ]

2. I hear next year they are planning to go to Yemen. Sorry but I have very little sympathy for them

[agingdem]

5. North Korea seems like a nice summer getaway...

and how about Syria...always a destination...

[JohnSJ]

9. I don't know what is going on

[agingdem]

13. Afghanistan???..who they hell planned this summer trip abroad...

and what parent would allow their child to travel to an occupied war zone...I know 20 years in Afghanistan is more or less a forgotten war but did mom and dad get the least bit suspicious when a Kevlar vest was on the list of need to bring items???

[Effete Snob]

33. Please read this

..and then consider what you just wrote.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/5594882001

“ The families had traveled separately to Afghanistan for summer vacations to see their grandparents, cousins and other relatives. Most of the families came to the United States on a special immigrant visa after having worked for the U.S. government or U.S. military in Afghanistan, officials said. The visa allows in only the person and their spouse and children.”

[agingdem]

43. this evacuation has been in the pipeline for many months...

the chaos involved...I understand wanting to see family but not when this draw down of troops and the rapid encroachment of the Taliban was obvious and in real time...

[jrthin]

12. +1 They may have family there, but now was not the time to

schedule a vacation.

[left-of-center2012]

3. I'm reminded of a story from a few years ago ...

Some folks decided to backpack along the Iraq - Iran border.
Hey, why not ? Sounds like a fun trip. What could go wrong ?

They were captured by Iranian troops.

I don't recall how it ended.

[Mr.Bill]

10. I think they spent a year or two in a prison

until the were let go as some kind of diplomatic bargaining chip.

[Deuxcents]

4. Maybe these students

And their parents will get an up close visit to Afghanistan. Who is responsible for this trip?

[magicarpet]

6. Was it s buy-bull missionaries group to convert Islamic followers to Jaysus and Christianity ?

If so,... their heads may have been chopped.

[SallyHemmings]

8. Because?????

[keithbvadu2]

11. S-T-U-U-U-U-U-U-P-I-D-!-!-!

[chia]

14. These are six families, with 23 children among them, that traveled to see extended family and

planned to be back before school started here on Aug. 17.

Maybe have a little compassion for them, anyone?

[Effete Snob]

15. Compassion? Facts?

The internet outrage beast has no need to understand facts.

The cartoon version of this story is so much better than the more complicated truth.

[chia]

19. Right? And thank you.

[left-of-center2012]

26. Six families, 23 kids, go to a war zone for summer vacation

It was a dumb thing to do, and now look at their situation.

[chia]

30. Do you have any knowledge of El Cajon, or the large immigrant and refugee community here?

I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

[left-of-center2012]

35. Yes

I lived in San Diego for 20 years.
Been to El Cajon a zillion times.

[chia]

36. 20 years when? Because the El Cajon of the past isn't the El Cajon of the present.

[left-of-center2012]

39. No

Apparently now the people are dumber?

[chia]

42. They're refugee families settled here, and you're calling them dumb?

[left-of-center2012]

44. They got out once

And they went back on vacation?

Yeah, that's dumb.

[chia]

45. Wow. I'd expect an attitude like that from a RWNJ site, but here? Surprising.

[left-of-center2012]

48. That was just a dumb move on their part

They got out of there once as refugees.

Then decided, what the heck,
let's go back on vacation.

Now we have to get them out of there a second time.

Vacationing in Afghanistan at this time was a dumb thing to do.
It's been a war zone for years and our troops are leaving.

But what the heck, let's go back on vacation?
And let's take the kids.

[Effete Snob]

31. They are families of people supporting the US military

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/5594882001

“ The families had traveled separately to Afghanistan for summer vacations to see their grandparents, cousins and other relatives. Most of the families came to the United States on a special immigrant visa after having worked for the U.S. government or U.S. military in Afghanistan, officials said. The visa allows in only the person and their spouse and children.”

[chia]

40. +1000

[left-of-center2012]

41. It was a dumb trip to make

And now look at their situation.

[orleans]

18. wth? weren't we telling americans to get out of there a couple months ago? nt

[agingdem]

20. who approved their visas?

[Effete Snob]

32. The US military

Because that’s who they work for.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/5594882001

“ The families had traveled separately to Afghanistan for summer vacations to see their grandparents, cousins and other relatives. Most of the families came to the United States on a special immigrant visa after having worked for the U.S. government or U.S. military in Afghanistan, officials said. The visa allows in only the person and their spouse and children.”

[blm]

22. They were scheduled to return on 17th and decided to extend their stay?

That seems an incredibly odd decision to make on Aug16, under the circumstances.

[chia]

25. No. They planned to be back before school resumed on August 17.

[blm]

28. Same thing, though. Why delay when US govt is telling you

to leave? Just trying to figure out the thinking that led to such an odd choice.

[chia]

34. They weren't able to get on their scheduled flights, something the OP has misrepresented from the

original articles at the LAT and The Hill.

[blm]

37. Oh.

Thanks.

[left-of-center2012]

38. So now because they went on a summer vacation to a war zone

Our troops and resources have to fix their stupidity?

Oh, and have compassion while doing it.

[left-of-center2012]

46. So apparently they were refugees who got out of there?

Who decided to go back home and visit?

And now we have to get them out a second time,
and have compassion while doing it?

[left-of-center2012]

47. So apparently they were refugees who got out of there?

Who decided to go back home and visit?

And now we have to get them out a second time,
and have compassion while doing it?